German education minister outraged by lecturers' support of university protests

Germany's Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger rebuked a letter of support from around 100 lecturers at Berlin universities in support of pro-Palestine protesters.

"This statement from educators at Berlin universities is staggering. Instead of taking a clear stand against hatred of Israel and Jews, university occupiers are being turned into the victims and violence trivialised," Stark-Watzinger told tabloid Bild newspaper.

Dozens of lecturers from several universities in Berlin signed a letter declaring they stand with their students and "defend" their right to peacefully protest, "regardless of whether we agree with the specific demands of the protest camp".

"We call on the Berlin university management to refrain from police operations against their own students as well as from further criminal prosecution," the statement continued.

Berlin conservative mayor, Kai Wegner, also criticised the letter, saying: "I have absolutely no sympathy for the authors of this pamphlet."